Page 10 - The Indian EYE 061623

OPINION JUNE 16, 2023 | The Indian Eye 10

Is Pakistan a Good Choice for

Renewal of GSP+ Status?

Despite being a signatory to various international conventions related to climate change,
interfaith harmony, labour rights, human rights and anti-corruption, Pakistan has been notorious for

violating these conventions on day-to-day basis

ASHISH SHUKLA

ased on the recommendations
of United Nations Confer-
Bence on Trade and Develop-
ment (UNCTAD) in 1971, the Eu-
ropean Union (EU) launched the
Generalized System of Preferences
(GSP) scheme to provide developing
countries easy access to EU’s large
market. Developing countries that
met the GSP criteria were given op-
portunity to export their products to
EU on reduced tariffs for a period
of 10 years. In 2006, a special incen-
tive arrangement called GSP+ was
worked out which focused on inter
alia sustainable development and
good governance. Unlike the GSP,
GSP+ provided “more favourable
tariff treatment for a range of prod-
ucts originating in those countries
that meet certain conditions.”
A major reform was later in-
troduced in the system of GSP that
came into force in January 2014. The
reformed scheme, which preserved
the general architecture of GSP, now
composed of three arrangements, Within a decade of declaring them as non-Muslims, a legal ordinance was brought in to make it a criminal offence
namely, General Arrangements, for Ahmadiyas to refer themselves as Muslims (File photo)
GSP+ Arrangements, and European
Banking Authority (EBA) Arrange- kistani goods enjoy Duty Free access cent during the same period, as the ing the Application of the Principles
ments. It provides more incentives on 66 per cent of EU tariff lines. As exports grew from 1.05 billion Euros of the Right to Organize and to Bar-
and enhances its monitoring to en- per the official data of Pakistan’s in 2013 to 2.62 billion Euros in 2021. gain Collectively, No. 98 (1949), and
sure compliance with the core inter- Commerce ministry, the bilateral A careful analysis of the develop- International Covenant on Civil and
national conventions. At present, the trade doubled from 6.9 billion Euros ments and facts suggest that despite Political Rights (1966), Pakistan has
GSP+ beneficiaries include Armenia, in 2013 to 12.2 billion Euros in 2021, enjoying all the benefits of GSP+ miserably failed to prevent genocidal
the Plurinational State of Bolivia, an increase of 78 per cent. Pakistan’s scheme to the optimum level, Paki- violence against Shia in general and
Cabo Verde, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, exports to EU increased from 3.56 stan has not been able to ensure the Hazara Shias in particular, Ahmadi-
Pakistan, Paraguay, the Philippines, billion Euros to 6.64 billion Euros implementation of all 27 UN Con- yas and other minorities.
and Sri Lanka. The GSP+ term for during the same period. ventions pertaining to five key areas Moreover, Pakistan’s predatory
these countries is ending in December Apparel and Clothing and Home including Climate Change, Interfaith security establishment regularly ha-
2023, which warrants a critical review Textile have been the two biggest ben- Harmony, Labour Rights, Human rasses and tortures rights activists,
before EU takes a call on inclusions/ eficiaries of the increased exports, as Rights, and Anti-Corruption. Out of especially from Baloch and Pashtun
exclusions in the upcoming list of ben- they accounted for 4 per cent and 23 these, 15 conventions are directly re- communities. In January 2020, Pash-
eficiaries for 2024-2034. per cent respectively of the total ex- lated to core human and labour rights. tun Tahafuz Movement (PTM)—
Pakistan, which was given the ports to EU. There has been 141 per As regards the Convention on the Pre- Movement for the Protection of Pash-
GSP+ status in 2013, has utilized cent increase in Home Textiles, as the vention and Punishment of the Crime tuns—leader Manzoor Pashteen was
the opportunities offered under the exports grew from 696 million Euros of Genocide (1948), Convention con- arrested by the security forces and
scheme to strengthen its trade rela- in 2013 to 1.6 billion Euros in 2021. cerning Freedom of Association and charged with inter alia sedition, crim-
tions with the EU resulting in major Similarly, Textiles, Apparel & Ho- Protection of the Right to Organize, inal conspiracy, attacking Pakistan’s
economic gains to its industries. Pa- siery witnessed an increase of 150 per No. 87 (1948), Convention concern- Continued on next page... >>

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